Age-Related lncRNA Alterations in Donor-Derived Human Limbal Epithelial Cells

Limbal epithelial cells (LECs) play a crucial role in preserving ocular surface stability and ensuring the normal function of the corneal epithelium. The functional capacity of LECs diminishes with age, playing a part in the onset of ocular diseases linked to aging. Although long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression and are known to be involved in numerous ocular pathologies, their expression dynamics during aging in LECs are not yet well characterized. Our findings reveal age-associated lncRNA and mRNA expression alterations in human LECs and highlight the SDHAP2_miR-17-5p/miR-20b-5p_RAB11FIP1 ceRNA network as a potential molecular indicator and therapeutic entry point for age-related ocular surface diseases.